As I prepare for my upcoming journey to Asia this summer, I’ve decided to embark without my iPhone, opting instead for a more basic mobile device. This alternative phone will be devoid of my usual apps like Instagram, Slack, and Signal, and it won’t contain access to my work email. The reason isn’t a digital detox but a proactive step to safeguard sensitive data on my personal phone from possible searches by U.S. border protection officers.
For more than a decade, border agents have had the authority to examine travelers’ personal electronics, including phones, laptops, and tablets. While this practice affects a small subset of travelers entering the United States, the number of electronics searches has steadily increased. Last year, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded approximately 43,000 such inspections, a rise from about 38,000 in 2023.
As a journalist frequently tasked with protecting confidential sources, carrying a burner phone is a measure I’m taking to prevent unwanted exposure, though it might seem extreme or unnecessary for most travelers. Recent cases highlighted the potential consequences of carrying sensitive information, with individuals denied entry to the U.S. partly due to phone data, such as photos related to guns or posts about protests.
“It’s concerning that the government can target specific individuals for searches,” noted Esha Bhandari, a lawyer with the ACLU. “We’ve observed anecdotal evidence of intensified scrutiny at borders, including searches of lawyers with confidential client communications and perceived dissenters.” Although no official rules have shifted, the enforcement frequency appears to be increasing, prompting both leisure and business travelers to be cautious about the data on their devices.
The appropriate strategy for managing data during travel depends on each traveler’s risk level, lifestyle, and profession. Cybersecurity expert Jeremiah Grossman advises travelers to assess their risk by considering their profession and the information stored on their devices. For those considered low-risk, employing a passcode and removing potentially sensitive apps may suffice. Grossman suggests turning off facial recognition and fingerprint sensors in favor of a passcode, which legally provides more protection, particularly for U.S. citizens who may refuse to disclose it. However, tourists and visa holders face the possibility of being denied entry if they decline to provide access.
Travelers facing moderate risk should consider backing up their data online and wiping their devices before entering the U.S. Services like Apple’s iCloud and Google One offer secure data backup options, allowing travelers to restore data easily over the internet.
For high-risk individuals, carrying a burner phone might be the optimal choice. By doing so, personal devices stay at home, and a simple travel phone with essential apps suffices. I plan to use a budget Android device with only ride-sharing and mapping apps, and access to a single email account created exclusively for travel needs. A temporary cellular plan via eSIM technology will keep my trip-related communications secure. Upon returning, I’ll simply transfer any important photos to my primary device before stowing the burner phone away for future travels.
This approach ensures data privacy at borders, aligning with growing concerns about digital privacy and government policies in the United States.
Original Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/technology/personaltech/travel-burner-phone-cbp.html
Category : Mobile Applications,Computers and the Internet,Smartphones,Content Type: Service,iPhone,Cloud Computing,United States Politics and Government,Privacy,Android (Operating System),Airport Security
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Publish Date: 2025-04-30 14:33:00
